Bob Lucas, nicknamed Mr. Weymouth from 1949 onwards, (6 January 1925 – 12 August 2010) was an English footballer who played as a goalkeeper during the 1940s and early 1950s, and was later a physiotherapist from 1957 to 2002.
Early life Bob Lucas was born on 6 January 1925 in Bethnal Green, London, England; three of his sisters died before he was born. During World War II, his family home was damaged and he was evacuated with his family to Maidenhead.
Footballing career Bob Lucas began his career as a goalkeeper with Repton Boys Club before moving to Eton Manor and then the Maidenhead United under-16 team, which he represented until 1941, when he made his first senior team appearance in the Great Western Combination when the regular keeper was unable to get leave from the British Army; Lucas played for Maidenhead United for the rest of the 1941–42 season and made 23 appearances across all competitions.
Lucas and his family moved back to London in 1942 and he signed for Golders Green in the same year. Also in 1942, Lucas was given a trial at Crystal Palace, but he was unable to play due to being called up to the Royal Navy. On 21 November 1942, he scored the winning goal during the 2–1 victory against Leyton in the Hertfordshire & Middlesex League.
He was demobbed in 1946 and played for Golders Green until the end of the 1945–46 season, although his last match for the club was in 1943.
Between 1946 and 1948, Lucas made four first team and seventy-six reserve appearances for Crystal Palace. He made his debut for Crystal Palace on 7 September 1946 in a 2–1 victory against Bristol Rovers.
In June 1948, Lucas became the first goalkeeper to play for the then-newly founded club Tonbridge. He stayed with the club until June 1949.
Lucas signed for Weymouth in 1949 and played for the club until 1951, making seventy-four appearances across all competitions. He debuted on 24 August 1949 during the 4–1 victory against Yeovil Town, and during his time at Weymouth, he is most notable for being the starting goalkeeper for Weymouth during their 4–0 loss to Manchester United at Old Trafford during the 3rd round proper of the 1949–50 FA Cup. While playing for Weymouth, he also worked as a printer for Weymouth and Portland Borough Council. He made 74 appearances across all competitions for Weymouth.
Lucas signed for Ramsgate in 1951. In 1953, aged 28, while playing for Ramsgate, Lucas suffered a ruptured lung which ended his playing career.
Later life Sometime around 1953, Lucas became a double-decker bus driver, and shortly after, he got a job at the Friary Press.
Physiotherapy career After retiring from the Friary Press, Lucas became an FA authorised physiotherapist for Dorchester Town in 1957. After six years at Dorchester Town, the FA invited him to be their physiotherapist at their coaching courses, which he undertook for fifteen years.
In 1972, the then manager of Weymouth Graham Williams persuaded Lucas to return to the club as the physiotherapist, and he became the club's physiotherapist until he retired in 2002; he was physiotherapist at Weymouth for 1,948 matches.
By 2002, he was earning £20 a week as physio, having previously taken a cut from £40 a week.
Weymouth club president After retiring as a physiotherapist in 2002, he became the club president of Weymouth in 2006. In July 2010, the Wessex Stadium, home of Weymouth, was renamed to the Bob Lucas Stadium in his honour.
Personal life and death Lucas married Jean in 1951, whom he met in June 1941 when he went to buy a pair of football boots at Cole's sports shop in St Mary Street, Weymouth. He had a daughter, Linda, and a son, Bobby, who died from cancer at the age of five. He was also a supporter of Weymouth.
On 12 August 2010, Lucas died in his home in Culliford Way, Weymouth from cancer aged 85. His body was privately cremated shortly after 6 September 2010.
Career statistics +Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsMaidenhead United1941–42Great Western Combination190—40230Golders Green1942–43Hertfordshire & Middlesex League111—301411943–44Hertfordshire & Middlesex League10—00101944–45Hertfordshire & Middlesex League00—00001945–46Hertfordshire & Middlesex League00—0000Total3110070381Crystal Palace1946–47Football League Third Division South400000401947–48Football League Third Division South00000000Total40000040Tonbridge1948–49Southern Football League0000Weymouth1949–50Southern Football League33090404601950–51Southern Football League2500050300Total58090110760Ramsgate1951–52Kent Football League Division One00001952–53Kent Football League Division One0000Total0000Career total831901801181
References